Outstanding letter from baseball pioneer and Hall of Famer Harry Wright to George Martin, manager of the baseball team at the University of Vermont.  Dated April 3, 1892, the letter, written on Philadelphia Phillies stationary, provides Philadelphia hotel recommendations to Martin, in advance of an exhibition game between the University of Vermont Catamounts and the Philadelphia Phillies.

The 1892 Catamounts were considered the best-ever baseball team fielded by the University, so good that they saw fit to issue challenges to the Phillies and Washington Senators.  The Phillies game took place on April 8 in Philadelphia, and the UVM team was routed, 24-3.  Though their exhibition in Washington was also a loss, the games were fortunate for Catamount players Bert Abbey and Frank O'Connor, as Abbey would make his major league debut with the 1892 Senators, and O'Connor would pitch three games for the 1893 Phillies.

Measuring just shy of 6" x 9", the letter is remarkably well-preserved, owing to having been stored in its original, powder blue mailing envelope for more than 100 years.  The result is that there is very little toning or wear to the paper beyond the two 130-year-old folds.  The ink is dark and legible, with virtually no blots or smudges.  Wright's signature was carefully applied in the lower-right corner of the letter.  Though the left edge of the envelope was torn away so that Martin could remove the letter, and the top and bottom folds of the envelope have separated, the postmark is clearly legible, as is Wright's handwriting on the address panel.

A tremendous early letter, in extraordinary condition, handwritten and signed by one of the founding fathers of baseball.  Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.